Sectional steering-wheel.



L. E. LAURANOE. SEGTIONAL STEERING WHEEL. APPLIGATIQN FILED MAR.1,1913.

Patented Apr. 14, 1914.

BY M 2 ATTORNEYS vided with the improved LIONEL EDWARD LAURANCE, OF STITES,

IDAHO.

SEGTIGNAL STEERING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 14, 1914.

Application illed'Marc-h 1, 1913. Serial No. 751,431.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LIoNnL LAURANCE, a citizen of the and a resident of Stites, in

ho and State of Idaho, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sectional Steering-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

y invention is an improvement in sectional steering wheels and like hollow hodies, and has for its object to provide a 1101- low body of the character specified, consist-ing of separable sections and having partitions separating the interior of the hollow body into compartments, sundry of the compartments, having openings covered with transparent coverings, the said hollow bodies being adapted to contain heating and illuininated devices, for heating the hollow body 23 for illuminating objects near the said In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the lower section of a steering wheel proeating and lightmg apparatus, Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1 with a part of the wheel rim in section, Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the heating devices, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged section of a portion of the rim.

In-the present embodiment of. the invention, a sectional wheel is provided, comprising a lower section 1 and an upper section 2, each of the said sections being approximately semi-circular in cross section and fitting together to form a hollow body of circular cross section.

The edges of. the upper and lower sections of the wheel rim are oppositely rabbeted as shown in- Fig. 3, to form an annular rib 3 at the inner side of the edge of the lower section, and a similar rib 4 at the outer side edge of the upper section, the ribs 3 and 4 fitting against each other as EDWARD shown to prevent relative displacement of the sections. The lower section 1 of the wheel is provided at intervals of with extensions 5, and the spokes 6 which con nect the sleeve or hub 7 of the wheel with the rim are each provided with an angular.

lug 8 at-their outer ends, the said lugs fitting against the extensions 5, and screws 9 are passed through the lugs and extensions to secure the lower section to the spokes.

he upper section 2 of the wheel rim is United States, vl the county of provided at spaced intervals with depending partitions 10, each ofthe said partitions within the lower sect on to approximately close the bore of the rim, and each of the said'partit-ions fits bearranged pairs of ribs interior of the rim into a plurality of chainhers, and sundry of the said partitions are enlarged laterally as indicated at 12 in Fig. 1, and each of the said partitions is provided with a threaded opening at 51181311- ving a screw .13 which get er.

It will be noticed from an inspection of Fig. 3 that the head of the screw is countersunk and is also rounded to conform with the external 7 wheel rim in break in the of the chainthe character shown in Fig.- 4- is arranged. Each of the said brackets 14 is secured to the lower section of the "Wheel rim by means of a rivet 15. It will be noticed that each bracket has three steps orsurfaces upon its upper face, one having the opening the other a strip 16 is secured by means of a screw 17. To the third or highest step, a substantially U-shaped strip 18 is connected, the said strip having one of its arms provided with an angular portion 19 rsting upon the surface of the step and secured thereto by a screw 20. The strip 16 is provided at. its free end with a split bearing2l and the ends of the split hearing are extended laterally to form lapping lugs 22.

he aring is designed to engage the socket 24 of an incandescent li ht globe 25, and by means of a screw :23 the hearing may be clamed on the socket. The free end of the lF-shaped strip 18 bears against the end the socket remote from the globe, and limits the movement of the said socket toward the bracket 14,

Each of the brackets 14.- supports its globe out of contact with the interior of the wheel rim, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and if desiredgthe globes 25 may be removed and replaced by the heating device shown in Fig. 4. If hoth heating and illuminating is desired, the alternate globes may he left in for the rivet l5 and tothe wheel rim, and a fuse 34 connected by means of a wire 39,

Q roeaeei corresponding thereto is connected to the source of supply, not shown, while when rocked in the opposite direction, the said heating or lighting apparatus is disconnected from the source of supply. It will be noticed that at its inner side the rim is rovided wi h openings in which are serted plates 25 of transparent material for permitting the rays oi light to pass from the rim. The outer ends of the openings ale-eve mentioned are enlarged and under cut as shown, to receive the plates 4:5.

I. claim 1. A device of the character specified, comprising awheel having a hollow rim, composed of upper and lower sections, the lower section having extensions for engagement by the spokes, each of the said sections having its edges rabbeted to form lapping the rim and the intermediate globes may be replaced by the said heating device. A only heating of the wheel rim is desired, the globes may be removed and replaced by the heating devices. Each of the heating devices consists of a coil 26 of resistance wire, which is wound around a mica support 27, the said support having a cross or X shape cross section, that is, having four vanes or wings and at one end the socket 28 is connected with the vanes, the quadrant being supported by the vanes. lhe strip 16 is connected with one of the terminals of the socket or of the heating device, while the strip 18 is connected with the other terminal, the said strips 16 and 18 being of conductin material, while the bracket 14: is of insu ating material, as for instance, hard rubber or the like. A. pair of lead wires 19 and 30 is connected to each pair of strips 16 ribs when the sections are placed together and 18, by means of the screws 17 and 20 to prevent lateral movement thereogonc of and from the said screws each pair of has the sections having transverse inwardly extending partitions at spaced intervals and the other section having spaced pairs of ribs for receiving the edges of thepartitions therebetween, said partitions dividing the hollow of the rim into a plurality of separate compartments, means for securing the together, said wheel sections of the wheel having openings on the inner surface thereor at sundry of the compartments, and a transparent covering for each opening. 2. A device of the character specified, comprising awheel having a hollow rim and composed of upper and lower sections, one of the sections having spaced transverse partitions for closing the rim to the bore or form within the said bore a plurality of wires pass by the inner surface way of grooves 31 and 32 in of the lower section of the wheel rim to the switch whose casing 33 is arranged. on one of: the spokes. The said grooves 31 and 32 extend entirely around is interposed in wires, adjacent to each device. The. lead wires one of the said lead lighting or heating 29 and 30 from each bracket l t are insulated carefully, and each pair is connected to a pair of terminals on the switch. "it will be noted that the switch arm 36 is provided ior each bracket let and the said switch arms are mounted to rock on the casing 33. The said casing 33 is mounted on a spoke and is ii'isulated therefrom by means ot a fiber plate 35. One of the tercompartments, said wheel having openings minals from each bracket- 14- is connected to at sundry of its compartments at the inner one of the spring arms 37 adjacent to a switch arm, and the other spring arm 38 15 with the metal conducting part 40 upon which the surface thereof, for the openings.

lil llllih BEWARE and transparent coverings lulllltthtllh switch arms are mounted to rock. Witnesses:

When the arms 36 are rocked in one di P. E. Ennis, rection, the lighting or heating apparatus A. ltd. lt'srnonns. 

